The island’s Organic Act states candidates for Guam governor must have a running mate for the Primary Election, according to the attorney for the Guam Election Commission, who asked the federal court to dismiss prospective gubernatorial candidate Sedfrey Linsangan’s request for an injunction against the commission.

Challenged requirements

Linsangan, who is representing himself in the case, has challenged the requirement of a running mate for the Primary, and also the requirement that candidates for governor submit nominating positions with at least 500 signatures, which he called excessive.

Linsangan, who filed his lawsuit Nov. 30, claiming his rights were violated, has asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction. The Election Commission on Monday opposed that motion, in a brief filed in the U.S. District Court of Guam by commission legal counsel Vincent Camacho.

The Election Commission, in its opposition brief, stated Linsangan, in effect, is asking the court to stop the Election Commission from conducting this year’s Primary and General Elections, since Linsangan’s lawsuit is unlikely to be resolved before then.

Unlikely to win

According to the commission, the Organic Act and local election laws, which require a gubernatorial running mate, are nondiscriminatory and politically neutral and Linsangan is unlikely to win his case.

“Enjoining the current election process weighs against the public interest, and when balancing the plaintiff’s desire to run for governor without a running mate versus the requirement to conduct elections as mandated, the court should find that the public interest is best served by proceeding forward with the election,” the commission stated.

“Plaintiff still has more than four months to choose a running mate, obtain the required nominating signatures, and prepare for the Primary Election. Plaintiff has not been harmed and has not suffered any hardship.”

Several gubernatorial teams already have announced their run for office this year: Republican Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio and running mate Tony Ada, who is a former senator;

Bank of Guam President Lou Leon Guerrero, who is a former Democratic lawmaker, and running mate Joshua Tenorio;

Democratic Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., and running mate Alicia Limtiaco, who is former U.S. attorney;

former Democratic Gov. Carl Gutierrez, and running mate Fred Bordallo, who is a former police chief; and

Democratic Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr., who has not announced his running mate.